Rodents can be a real nuisance for homes, farms and factories. They enter buildings in search of food, water and shelter. They can gnaw through wires and cause costly structural damage. Keep cluttered spaces clean to eliminate hiding spots and prevent rodents from gaining access.
Place traps or bait where you see droppings, nesting material, gnaw marks and burrows. Use tamper-resistant bait stations to prevent children and pets from gaining access. Contact Rodent Control Boston for professional help.
Rodents need to gnaw in order to keep their sharp incisors from overgrowing, and chewing on just about anything will help them achieve this. As a result, rodents will often cause damage to wood, wires, carpeting and food. They can even gnaw through some kinds of metal and electrical wires, resulting in costly structural damage and creating a fire risk.
Other damage comes from rodent urine and droppings, which can contaminate food. The resulting bacteria put people and animals at risk of disease.
Clutter spaces provide hiding spots and homes for rodents, so regular cleanup is a key part of prevention. Also important are removing food and water sources such as open garbage containers and overflowing ice machines. It is also helpful to seal off entry points. Mice can squeeze through holes the size of a dime, and rats can contort themselves into spaces as small as a quarter. Door sweeps, window and screen repairs and eliminating gaps around utility lines and boxes can all help keep the mice and rats out.
Rats and mice are persistent pests that can outwit basic rodent control tactics. This is why it is important to find a reputable pest control provider that will design an Integrated Pest Management plan specific to your needs.
Using traps and barriers, rodent baits, and other preventative methods, pest control professionals will create an effective strategy to rid your business of the rodents. In addition to providing protection from health risks and property damage, proper rodent control will also protect the local ecosystem.
Rodents can alter ecosystems by competing for resources, predating on native species and transmitting diseases that impact humans and other animals. In addition, invasive species such as mice and rats can contribute to the loss of biodiversity. Effective rodent control will reduce the negative impact of mice and rats on native species and preserve local ecosystems.
Rodents are sensitive to many types of chemical control and can be particularly suspicious of new objects such as traps, bait stations and trap doors. As a result, it can take time for the rodents to accept these new objects. Once they do, however, the traps and baits will act as a deterrent to them and reduce the overall infestation problem.
Health Issues
Rodents are a health risk because they can carry and spread a variety of pathogens that cause disease in humans. They directly transmit diseases through bite wounds, contaminated food or water from rodent urine and droppings, or from the ectoparasite vectors such as fleas, ticks, mites and fleas they carry and live with. They also contaminate food, cause fire hazards by chewing on electrical wires, and can exacerbate allergy and asthma conditions.
While rodents may seem cute and harmless, they can be a serious problem for homes and businesses. They damage property and destroy inventory by gnawing through wood, insulation and wiring. They can even start fires by chewing through flammable materials like cardboard. They are known to contaminate food and can trigger allergies due to their droppings, urine and saliva. They are carriers of numerous diseases, such as hantavirus, leptospirosis, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, salmonella, and the plague, and can cause respiratory illnesses such as bronchiopulmonary syndrome, rat bite fever, and hepatitis E.
Early detection and intervention is key to effective rodent control. Regular inspections can identify signs of a problem, such as droppings or gnaw marks. Other indicators include a musty odor, tracks, scurrying noises, and shredded material found in hidden areas such as attics and behind appliances. Rodents are nocturnal, so scratching sounds in walls or ceilings at night can also indicate a rodent infestation.
Sanitation and rodent proofing are the most important aspects of effective rodent control. It is crucial to eliminate the conditions that encourage an infestation, and then implement long-term methods of rodent control that include trapping and baiting. For heavy infestations, it is recommended to contact a pest control expert who can assist with sanitation, proofing and eradication. Our professionals can also provide regular monitoring, identifying conditions that attract rodents and helping to locate areas of entry, to avoid costly and extensive damage. This is called integrated pest management (IPM). The goal of IPM is to prevent rodents from gaining access to the home while using the least amount of toxic treatments. Contact us today to learn more about our rodent control services.
Structural Issues
Rodents gnaw on virtually anything to maintain their ever-growing incisor teeth, and unfortunately the structures of homes and businesses are not immune. This destructive habit weakens foundations, compromises electrical systems, creates entry points and damages insulation. It can also lead to the deterioration of pipes, which in turn causes water leaks and damages personal belongings.
Besides structural damage, rodents are known carriers of diseases like hantavirus and salmonella. They can spread these illnesses through urine, droppings, bites and saliva. Indirect contact through contaminated food and beverage can also cause significant problems for those who consume it. Seeking immediate pest control services at the first sign of a rodent infestation is vital.
Rodents enter buildings through cracks and gaps, and the best way to prevent this is to make your home inhospitable for these unwanted visitors. Block their entry points by checking for gaps around doors, windows, vents and where utilities enter your house. Seal them using materials like steel wool or caulk. Also, store food in sealed containers and clean up spills immediately. Keep bushes and tree branches cut back to reduce their hiding places.
Rats and mice seek shelter in small spaces, and they can squeeze through shockingly small openings. They may also chew through wires to create a path for entering the structure. If left unchecked, this can lead to an electric shock or fire hazard.
During construction or demolition, it is important to have a well-written rodent control specification and defined regulatory requirements in place. This will help to avoid displacement, and it will ensure that rodents are eliminated before work begins. It is also important that the specifications are followed throughout the duration of the project, and that they are maintained until all materials and equipment have been removed from the site.
Rodents are attracted to garbage and scraps, so it is important that trash is frequently taken out and that lids on containers are tightly secured. It is also important to regularly empty and wash trash receptacles. To discourage rodents, remove all weeds and overhanging vegetation from the exterior of the building, and keep it well swept.
SMART Boxes
A few cities are starting to take a modern approach to a centuries-old problem by deploying smart traps that use data tracking to improve the effectiveness of traditional pest control methods. For example, Somerville is partnering with Modern Pest Services (which owns Anticimex) to deploy 50 above-ground SMART boxes in four areas of the city as part of a five-month pilot program. The SMART Boxes electrocute rodents using an electrical current, instead of relying on poisons. They collect live data on rodent activity, and also provide a real-time view of trap status to help inform the city’s response.
These boxes are ideal for use in out-of-the-way, cramped places where rodents tend to hide. The devices also allow pest professionals to track activity at sites where a bait box might not be visible or accessible. The SMART Eye Mini, for example, is small enough to fit inside the tight spaces where rodents often nest in attics, crawlspaces and other out-of-the-way spots. The SMART Eye Mini can monitor for rodent activity up to 6.5 feet away. It can also send an alert when a rodent is detected, and it can record a video of the rodent to help identify the type of rodent.
In addition to improving the efficacy of pest management, the SMART Box system reduces costs for the customer and contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing the use of chemical pesticides. It also shifts the criteria for a pest control operator to drive to a site from rote schedules of checking bait boxes to actual detection of rodent activity. This cuts fuel consumption and carbon emissions, a benefit for commercial clients with environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets.
The SMART Boxes are being deployed at locations identified as high-rodent areas, including Davis Square, the Gilman Street area, Lexington Street and Macarthur Street. They’re part of a broader effort to address the issue, which includes a new baiting policy and additional measures aimed at reducing rat-related issues in business districts, residential neighborhoods, open spaces and other key settings.